News from June 5 to 11, 2010

Unemployment down in the Kootenays

• There’s been some improvement when it comes to our region’s unemployment rate.
• In May, there were 6,000 people pounding the pavement, a jobless rate of 8.2 percent..that’s down from April, when the rate was 9 percent, and the previous May when the rate was also 9 percent, and 1,000 more people were looking for work.
• But it’s not all good news… In May there were actually 2,000 fewer jobs compared to May 09′…the labour force has also declined.  Statistics Canada says the majority of the job losses were part time.

Monthly Labour Market Snapshot

To see a monthly synopsis of labour market statistics including participation rates as well as industry and regional highlights for BC, click here:  Labour Market Snapshot

Labour Market Outlook 2009 – 2019

Are you wondering what the future prospects are for a particular occupation?  Are you wondering what the work trends are for BC?  Would you like to know what skills and abilities will be required for work in the future?

This brand-new outlook shows future prospects by various BC regions.  BC Labour Market Outlook.

Local News

On June 3, the Silver Ledge Hotel in Ainsworth was destroyed by a fire.  According to Greg Nesteroff who is a local historian and writer, this ”leaves Ainsworth with only one major heritage building.”

Interfor‘s decision to re-open the Castlegar sawmill has meant logging has picked up around the area and employed some local contractors.  The sawmill will not be running at full-capacity and will only be open for a 3- to 4-month period. The mill will be running at around a third of its total capacity beginning in July of this summer. Logging began in May and will continue to run throughout the summer.  Interfor said they would be hiring between 80 and 85 employees for the mill – half of its past labour force.

Five months have now passed since BC implemented a ban on using a hand held cell phone while driving, despite the dangers and fines people are still choosing to break the law. According to ICBC spokesperson Adam Grossman police have issued over 8,000 tickets province wide.

A new gaming centre in Castlegar is expected to begin construction before the end of June and anticipated to be completed by May or June 2011.  Berezan Management from Langley is the contractor overseeing the construction.  The gaming centre is expected to create 60 new jobs in the community.

Georama Growers, a Nelson area greenhouse, celebrates 40 years of family-dedicated horticulture service.  The business’s future according to Case Grympa, looks like ”long term steady growth.”

Kootenay Lake Hospital Foundation announced in early June that the fundraising efforts for the $1.5 million CT scanner are on track, and expected to meet the mid-September deadline.

A new study to be spearheaded by the region’s Francophone association will try and come up with some solutions to the housing shortage arising from the warm weather migration of young people from the East. The Association des Francophones des Kootenays Ouest (AFKO) will be looking to find their own funding for research.

Kootenay News is a regular feature of Kootenay Career Development Society.